Keeping Dry This Summer

Posted 25 July 2017

Now that we’re in for warmer weather, longer days, and (hopefully!) less rain, it’s time to stash away your winter wear and grab your summer kit from storage! Of course, dusting off your softshell and your hiking boots isn’t enough – you also need to make sure that your gear’s ready for the challenges a new season can bring. Fortunately, we’ve over 80 years’ experience helping you do just that – from cleaning, to waterproofing, to conditioning worn leather, we’ve done it all!

Read on to discover the best way to make sure your clothing, footwear, and equipment all perform at their best throughout your adventures…

Getting clothing summer-ready…

While winter clothing tends to focus on keeping the rain and snow out and your body heat in, a summer wardrobe has no space for down-filled jackets and multiple base layers. Instead, you’ll most likely be wearing thinner softshells, single base-layers, and garments with increased breathability. Keeping dry is still important, though – you never know when the weather will turn and the clouds will roll in…

Use PERFORMANCE WASH to ensure your jackets and other garments are as breathable as possible and performing at their best. Regular laundry detergents, as well as dust, dirt, and mud, can all impair the breathability and water-repellency of your gear. Switching out your soap powder for Grangers keeps them working as they should.

Use ODOUR ELIMINATOR to refresh any gear that doesn’t necessarily need a full wash, but which could probably benefit from being freshened up. Great for bags, hats, and gloves, or for anything that simply can’t fit into the washing machine. Odour Eliminator works by destroying odours rather than masking them - just the thing for keeping gear residue-free!

Use CLOTHING REPEL to add water-repellency to your gear, or to pep up the DWR coating your jackets and garments might already have. It’s suitable for use on all technical garments – including those with Gore-Tex® linings. If you’d rather use a spray-on product, of just want to top-up any high-wear areas (cuffs and collars are common culprits!), PERFORMANCE REPEL provides excellent protection and can be left to dry naturally.

Getting footwear summer ready…

Your footwear probably works harder than the rest of your gear, all year round. It has to keep your feet warm, dry, properly supported, and protected across a variety of terrain and over every mile that you trek. While winter is probably a littler harsher on your boots and shoes than summer, it’s still worth taking the time to ensure that your footwear is ready for anything you might throw at it – especially if you’ve neglected it since last year…

Use FOOTWEAR CLEANER to clean away the dirt, dust, and muck your boots have accumulated during your previous adventures. This won’t just help you like the part, it’ll also keep any breathable or water-repellent membranes your footwear has working at their best. More importantly, cleaning your boots is always the best place to start before reproofing or waxing…

Use G-WAX and PASTE WAX to keep any leather footwear you have in good condition. Made with natural beeswax to provide essential nourishment – in addition to all-round protection – these waxes will prevent leather from drying out and cracking. Cracked leather is a poor protector – if keeping dry is important, waxing is essential!

Use FOOTWEAR REPEL to protect any fabric, suede, or nubuck footwear from rain and (potentially) stains. It’s ideal for use on suede and nubuck because wax-based products can affect the finish of those materials, but it’s suitable for anything you might need to proof. It dries clear, and won’t affect the breathability of your boots either, making it safe for those with Gore-Tex® linings.

Protecting your equipment…

Clothing and footwear are only part of the story though. As the warmer weather takes hold, you might want to make sure that your outdoor equipment, rucksacks, kit bags, and even tents are all protected too. After all, nothing ruins a camping trip like soggy gear or a leaking tent! Fortunately, Grangers TENT + GEAR CLEANER and TENT + GEAR REPEL are both designed to care for any outdoor articles you might need to clean, care for, or protect.

Wherever you’re heading, and whatever your plans, make sure to prepare beforehand – and share any photos you snap with us on Facebook and Twitter!